Inner Focus Music

On Approaching the Invisible Mountain, Jenks Miller’s only previous album under his own name, the guitarist exploits only space and tone. The series of six spare, nebulous guitar improvisations comes full of rests and breaks—as though, in pauses for pondering, Miller considered what he’d just played and proceeded accordingly. It was a winding, easy listen, [...]

One of the most adventurous and prolific members of the New York free-jazz community” according to Ed Hazell of Signal To Noise, Steve Swell’s reputation, work ethic and committment to excellence has kept him in the forefront of improvised music and a leading voice on his instrument for more than 20 years. On February 27th [...]

No musician admits it out loud and a few probably don’t even admit it to themselves, but every musician wants to get into the history books. I’ve seen composers open a new book from the back just to look for their name in the index. I do that myself sometimes. I’m very proud that I [...]

Chicago has lots of music festivals, and Chicago has plenty of concerts year-round devoted to experimental music and noise. Now it looks like the city is finally getting a festival that focuses on experimental music and noise. The Neon Marshmallow Festival will make its debut from August 20 through 22 at the Viaduct Theater, and [...]

1. The Stone John Zorn’s spartan Alphabet City outpost provides a no-frills home for avant-garde music of all inclinations, programmed by different musicians each month. Ave C at 2nd St (no phone) 2. Issue Project Room at the Old American Can Factory Issue’s current home is temporary, but avant-rockers, contemporary-classical players and electroacoustic improvisers have [...]